Container coupler



. 1970 L. c. LAFONT CONTAINER COUPLER Filed May 1969 PRIOR ART INVENTOR LEOPOLDO C. LAFONT J IV j ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,546,753 CONTAINER COUPLER Leopoldo C. Lafont, Newark, N.Y., assignor to John J.

McMullen Associates, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 6, 1969, Ser. No. 822,234 Int. Cl. B65j 1/08; B66c N42 US. CI. 24-81 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past, cellular container ships and systems for loading and discharging cargo have been adapted to handle the containers individually. Such an arrangement, in terms of economics, is quite inefficient.

Recently, there has been devised a system for handling two containers simultaneously when these containers are married. Such a system is disclosed in copending patent application Ser. No. 641,665, filed May 26, 1967, and entitled Container Transporting and Handling System. This patent application discloses two types of bottom fittings for coupling containers together for handling, transporting and storing. However, the disclosed fittings are first concepts developed to ensure the technical feasibility of the entire system disclosed in the application.

{In copending patent application Ser. No. 655,376, filed July 24, 1967, and entitled Container Coupling Fittings, now Pat. No. 3,449,801, issued June 17, 1969, two improved bottom fittings are disclosed. One of these bottom fittings consists of two independent hook-like cast pieces which serve to engage respective container castings of adjacent containers, a bolt passing through each fitting pair, and a threaded wedge for receiving the bolt and for controlling the coupling of the containers. While this fitting is a substantial improvement over those disclosed in the first-referenced patent application, it has been found that bending forces occur in the arms of each fitting pair. Further, the threaded wedge tends to be somewhat vulnerable to stress at its narrowest point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel coupler for marrying two containers so that these containers may be simultaneously handled, transported and stored. The coupler of the present invention is adapted to be engaged in each bottom corner casting of adjacent containers and serves to rigidly secure two containers so as to form a single composite unit.

Each corner coupler is an independent self-adjusting fitting which may be used without the necessity for manual assembly with each use. Two couplers structurally connect the containers and maintain a space between them. Compression fittings positioned at the tops of the containers serve to maintain the container spacing uniform. Each container coupler comprises a pair of interconnected coupler arms, a pair of wedge members which, in conjunction with the coupler arms, control the action of the coupler, and a stud member passing through the arms and wedges for defining the operation of the Wedge members. Each coupler arm has a main body portion and is associated with the wedge members so that the wedge members act on opposite sides of the arm. In this manner, the forces on the coupler arms, generated by the wedge members, act along the lengths of the main body portions; as a consequence, no bending forces are generated.

Each wedge member has a bore therethrough, the bore passing through the wedge at a location where the wedge is relatively wide. In this manner, no points of vulnerability in the wedge are created.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a container coupler which is readily manufactured and easily used and which exhibits superior strength properties.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide a container coupler which is strong and which is used in a manner whereby no bending forces are generated therein.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a wedge to be used in the instant coupler which wedge is not subject to local forces which threaten the life of the wedge.

These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the attendant advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a container coupling known to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective of one arm of the container cou ler of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a wedge used in combination with the coupler of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the container coupler of the present invention showing its use in coupling a pair of containers; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the container coupler shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is illustrative of a container coupler such as that described in the above-referenced patent application entitled Container Coupling Fittings. Two independent hook-like cast pieces 10 are provided to engage the container corner castings 12 of adjacent containers. A bolt 14 passes through each casting pair, threads through a threaded wedge 16 and has thereon a keeper 18 to ensure that the wedge 16 does not become detached from the bolt 14. Pins 19 are provided to maintain the unity of the assembled coupler.

In operation, the container engaging fingers, indicated at 20, are passed through respective openings 22 in the container comer castings. The bolt 14 is then rotated until the wedge 16 exerts a force on the angled sides of the spacer fingers 24. In this manner, the container engaging fingers 20 exert forces on the respective containers urging them together, while the spacer fingers 24 exert forces urging them apart. This is evident when one .notes that each element 10- of the coupler is shaped and positioned so that its spacer finer 24 abuts one container, while its container engaging finger 20 grasps another.

With reference now to FIG. 2, there is shown one arm of the container coupler forming a part of the present invention. The arm is shown generally at 24 and com prises a main body portion 26, one end of which has appended thereto a container engaging finger 28 and the other end of which forms a spacer element. The spacer element is defined by a U-shaped structure, the arms of which are indicated at 30. On the ends of each arm 30 is positioned a T-member 32', each T-member having a pair of angled faces 34.

With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown a Wedge 36 adapted to form part of the container coupler of the present invention. The wedge 36 has a threaded bore 38 passing therethrough, the bore 38 being located centrally with respect to the body of the wedge 36. Further provided on each wedge 36 are four inclined faces 40, each inclined face serving, as described below, to mate with an inclined face 34- on the coupler arms 24. It will be noted that the bore 38 is positioned so as to pass through an area of maximum width. As a consequence, the bore presents no loss of strength to the wedge.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the interconnection of the coupler arms 24- with the Wedges 36- is described. A unified coupler assembly is shown generally at 42. This assembly comprises a pair of coupler arms 24, a pair of wedges 36, a bolt 44 having a keeper 46 on the end thereof, and a washer 48. As viewed in FIG. 4, the upper wedge is threaded, but the lower wedge is unthreaded.

The container coupler is assembled as follows. A pair of coupler arms 24 are arranged with the container engaging fingers 28 extending in the same direction. The arms 24 are positioned, as best seen in FIG. 5, so that the U-shaped regions interact. Then, a pair of wedges are positioned, as best seen in FIG. 4, so that the sloped surfaces 40 of each wedge interact with the sloped surfaces 34 of each coupler arm. A Washer 48 is positioned on the bolt 44- and the bolt is passed through a first unthreaded wedge member 36, through the respective U-shaped regions of the coupler arms 24 and threadably through a second wedge member 36. A keeper member 46 is then connected, as by welding, to the end of the bolt 44. Pins 50 may be provided to ensure that the container coupler assembly, once intact, does not later require a reassembly procedure.

In operation, the container engaging fingers 28 are inserted into respective openings 22 on a pair of container corner castings 12. The bolt 44 is then rotated. Responsive to the rotation of the bolt 44, the threaded wedge 36 moves along the bolt so that the distance between the wedges is reduced. As a consequence of the interaction between the slanted faces 40 of the Wedges 36 and the slanted faces 34 of the coupler arms 24, the container engaging fingers .28 urge the corner castings together-the fingers 28 moving toward each other when the bolt 44 is tightened. Simultaneous with the uniting motion of the coupling fingers '28 is a motion associated with the spacer fingers 32. Particularly, when the bolt 44 is tightened, the fingers 32 move away from one another. As a consequence, the fingers 32 serve to define a minimum spacing between the respective containers and urge the containers apart.

It will be appreciated that the forces serving to unite a pair of containers act on the container couplers of the present invention along the length of the respective bodies 26 of each coupler arm. This results since the wedges 36 supply equal and opposite forces on the coupler arms 24, which forces are centered about the main body portions 26. As a consequence of this force balancing, there are no bending forces experienced by the couplers of the present invention. Thus, strength properties are improved.

It is contemplated by the present invention that spacer members (not shown) be provided at the upper regions of adjacent containers. In this manner, a uniform space is provided between containers.

Above, there has been described a particular embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that this description is given for eXemplary purposes only and that it is the intent that the present invention not be limited to the above, but only be limited as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A coupler for marrying t-wo containers together in a spaced relationship to permit simultaneous handling and transporting of the two containers as one unit, the coupler comprising: first and second coupler elements, each coupler element having a container engaging finger thereon serving to engage a respective one of said two containers, and each having a spacer finger thereon serving to define a space between said two containers, said first and said second coupler elements being arranged in such a manner that the respective spacer fingers interact to provide first and second faces lying on opposite sides of the line defining the length of the coupler elements for the application of forces; and stud means associated with said first and said second faces which, when activated, exert substantially equal forces on said first and second faces, which forces cause said spacer fingers to urge the two containers apart and cause said containers engaging fingers to urge the two containers together.

2. The coupler as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second faces on said first and second coupler elements each define overlapping inclined planes.

3. The coupler as set forth in claim 2 wherein said stud means include first and second wedge means for contacting the respective surfaces of said inclined planes and for causing said inclined planes to move relative to one another upon activation of said stud means.

4. The coupler as recited in claim 3 wherein said first coupler element and said second coupler element are so shaped and associated so that the container engaging finger of each coupler element contacts one of said two containers and the spacer finger of each coupler element contacts the other of said two containers.

5. The coupler as recited in claim 4 wherein said container engaging fingers are in the form of hooks adapted to engage the bodies of said two containers.

6. A coupler for marrying two containers together in a spaced relationship to permit simultaneous handling and transporting of the two containers as one unit, the coupler comprising: first and second coupler elements, each coupler element having a main body portion, a container engaging finger and a spacer finger, said spacer finger defined by a pair of elements extending transverse to said main body portion, each of said elements provided with two inclined faces; first and second wedge means having inclined faces provided thereon and serving to engage said inclined faces of said transversely extending elements; and means to activate said wedge means in such a manner that, when activated, said wedge means exert a force on said first and second coupler elements so that said container engaging fingers urge the two containers together, while the spacer fingers urge the two containers apart.

7. The coupler of claim 6 wherein each transverse element is provided with two inclined faces which lie on opposite sides of the line defining the length of the main body portion.

'8. The coupler of claim 6 wherein the wedges exert substantially equal and opposite forces on said coupler elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,449,801 6/1969 Lafont et al. 2481,

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 220 -1.5 

